*** Official Clevo P75xDM and P77xDM/Sager NP9758-G and NP9778-G "Batman 2.0" Owner's Lounge ***

Indeed, we shall woo all the old alienware owners over

 

Oh, going with Alienware was a mistake... but necessary at the time. I feel ashamed of what I have done and never again will I betray Clevo. I hope everyone can forgive me.

BTW, my Alienware is all broken and will probably be sold for parts.
Long story-short: I wanted to upgrade the M17x R2 with a 970M , which kinda worked, but didn't. So with Prema's help we tried to mod the vBIOS into getting the proper image on the laptop screen. There was a lot of vBIOS modding and lost nights involved, until the laptop kicked the bucket, the 970M got its vBIOS fried and ... yeah. That was about 2 months ago.

Thank God my old M570TU is still working. I am on it right now and still playing SC2 with my mates on it. This laptop was bought in dec 2008 from a company that went bankrupt 4 years ago!

 

You should be able to recover the card at least with a manual vbios chip flash (removing it and programming it before soldering it back on).

 

How do you install audio drivers correctly? First I installed realtek drivers from their webpage and then I installed XFI mb5 from eurocom page. Audio is working fine but I don't know what XFI does other than tell me there is no compatible device. I suppose the jack with red light is linked to the XFI thing?

 

ok, first things first: dont install the official latest drivers from the realtek site, only use the ones provided by clevo or a clevo vendor / reseller / shop that u got your machine from. otherwise, the soundblaster solftware wont work!

next, the X-Fi software enhances the sound output of your machine, u can adjust treble, bass, sorround, etc with it and imho it definitely adds significant output quality to the overall sound experience!

 

Got it. Thanks.

Other question. In XTU i have undervolted my i7 6700 100mV. Do i need to start the program everytime I boot?

 

nope, u just set it once, then the xtu service takes care of the rest with each boot in the background basically fire and forget as long as its stable, of course

 

When I use XTU on my new 750DM-G, the undervolt I'm using is completely stable but when I power down (start -> shutdown), at the next start up when I go to XTU it usually tells me that the laptop shut down unexpectedly. If I simply restart the laptop with an undervolted profile operational, it sticks fine, so it seems that something in normal shutdown is causing XTU to throw a hissy fit.

Is this normal, am I doing something wrong, or is my undervolt actually unstable?

 

If you still have Fast Startup / Hibernation / Hybrid boot enabled, you are getting a "soft" shutdown. That could be what is upsetting XTU.

I run without Hibernation, which Fast Startup / Hybrid boot / Soft Shutdown require to run. Disable all of them at once by turning off hibernation:

In a "Run As Administrator" cmd window:

powercfg /h off

or, if you get an error, use this instead:

powershell -Command "Start-Process 'powercfg.exe' -Verb runAs -ArgumentList '/h off'"

Then reboot.

Power up boot and give it a try again, shutdown after setting XTU settings and see if the next boot correctly loads the profile.

 

So you have to have fast boot disabled for overclocking/undervolting? or only if you go so far?

 

I've tried what you said, and my first full power-off/reboot attempt kept the XTU settings in place, so it looks promising.

Is there any way to tell if hiberation is off btw? My start menu even before I used the CMD command above didn't have a 'hibernate' option, so I'm not actually sure if hibernation was enabled in the first place.

 

You could try "on" instead of "off", and see if the problem comes back

I always run with hibernation and pagefile disabled. So I really can't say if I have noticed XTU doing this before now with hibernation on.

Since most people run with OS defaults - hibernation on, and run XTU without mentioning a problem keeping profile loaded, I have assumed in the past it isn't a problem.

It might be a particular driver / OS situation going on that exacerbated the problem this time.

Are you running Windows 8.1 or 10?

Your description was very good, and from it I deduced it was a shutdown issue - since restart worked - and the only shutdown issues I am aware of are all due to soft shutdown (or broken drivers), and therefore hibernation must have been on - thus disabling it was worth a try

 

Interesting. Why do you run with pagefile disabled and hibernation off? I mean any reason beside to keep XTU happy?

 

It has nothing to do with XTU

Just as an aside, the only "trick" I am aware of before this for XTU was to install it As Administrator - remember that in case someday install fails.

I run without pagefile since I had 4GB memory for a Windows machine. 8GB same. Now with 32GB/64GB available my usage can well do without a pagefile.

It may not improve performance, it may only save 1x-2.5x memory size in disk space - depending on how much pagefile you assign based on memory size, but I know I don't need it, so why leave it enabled?

Optimization tidbits all add up to a big bite, and keeping attention to detail keeps your eyes sharp for finding other improvements.

Get lazy about 1 thing, and all the other things may follow

There are rare instances where enabling pagefile is needed. Kernel debugging on Windows - dumpfile space.

Older versions of programs linked with old libraries that depend on pagefile being available, and recent programs where they messed up the build.

XTU was one of those during 1 version release - it refused to work without a pagefile.

Have fun

 

I see! thank you! and i'm getting hibernation disabled to save space too?
fdxxf

 

Yes, hiberfil.sys will disappear - it's 1x the size of memory. pagefile.sys goes away after you set no pagefile - and reboot.

 

Wow yeah. good point on the filesize... that changes things up..

 

If you have 32GB of memory, and want to use a 128GB boot SSD, you would save a huge percentage of free space - 64GB for me, that's way worth taking the trouble to turn off pagefile and hibernation, without doing that it's not possible

 

What you have temperatures processor 6700k Clevo p771dm-g ? What use thermal paste? I have 99 C in prime95.

 

That seems really high. Even without undervolting, my 750dm-g doesn't run anywhere near that hot (barely breaking 80C) and with an undervolt of 150mV in place, temps are around 70C with prime95. The only way I can get them up to high 80s at the moment is if I run prime95 and 3dMark at the same time.

edit: I'm using a i7-6700k too so pretty much like for like

 

What version of p95 are you using? Try 26.6. After that uses avx and avx2, generating up to 20 C more than the other...

 

Using prime95 28.7 build 1.

 

That's your problem! It uses avx2 and pushes it hotter than just about any real life situation you'll face (except for certain professions). No reason to torture your hardware like that!

 

In my 6700 non K no undervolt it caps at 82 grades. With undervolt around 73.

 

good job @hmscott explaining to the newbies here how to properly set up your windows i havent used pagefile and hibersys file in aaaaaages. disabling them and any kind of "soft" shutdown crap feature windows implements at stock saves you lots of trouble, issues, disk space, and sometimes even a bit of performance

 

On a related note, it is possible for programs to access the page file directly (not simply as an automated overflow for RAM) hence why you should never fully disable it.

I would recommend limiting it's size though. I've come across many apps which actually memory leak inside the pagefile (not in ram) and since the automated page file setting has no upper limit you can end up with a massive file. Could be particularly bad for SSDs as well. I usually cap it off at 4GB.

On the note of hibernating, for those who want to turn it off:
1) Open command prompt as Administrator
2) Put in the command "powercfg -h off"
3) Reboot

Kills hibernate in every way (including fast-shutdown/startup which is managed separately and removes the hiberfile.sys). With how fast these machines are and how low power sleep mode is now, it's rather pointless nowadays anyway.

 

Leaving a small pagefile on won't hurt anything, run with whatever you are comfortable.

I am happy to report it's been many years since I have had an app need it for normal operation - buggy apps are found quickly this way as well

Here's another method for turning off hibernate if you get a permissions error with powercfg directly:

powershell -Command "Start-Process 'powercfg.exe' -Verb runAs -ArgumentList '/h off'"

 

I keep a small page file too, but I might test out removing it at some point now I am on 10 and see how it copes.

 

Haw long boot pawer buton - style note (Clevo p771dm-g, ddr4 2400 2x8gb RAM HyperX, gtx 970m, BIOS 1.05.05)? to me it is 25 sec.

 

lemme guess: got an nvme drive installed as your boot drive?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

Using ssd kingston v300 240 gb.

 

hmmm thats strange then. are u doing proper shutdowns, no sleep / hibernate / whatever crap?

also what kinda periphery do u have connected to your machine?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

Normal shutdown using. Not conected periphery laptop.

 

How can you calibrate sharpness on a laptop? Nvidia control panel only let me adjust gamma contrast and brightness.

 

Your TV should have its own sharpness settings so I suggest you use that rather than the GPU settings.

 

is your ssd in the first boot priority? have u applied any undervolting and/or overclocking settings?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

I mean the laptop screen. Since it has not any menu like external monitor has.

 

The internal panel doesn't have a sharpness modifier (as it's technically a post-process effect).

If things are blurry, it's much more likely due to configuration rather than hardware such as:
A) Cleartype not enabled or configured poorly.
B) Not using a 1:1 resolution (ie using 1680x1050 on a 1080p panel will make things blurry due to scaling)
C) DPI scaling not configured properly. Windows 8.1+ seems to default to 125% scaling on 1080p laptops now. Try dropping it to 100% (make sure you log-off/on or reboot) or use 150% or 200%. These have fewer text issues.

 

Do you have as-ssd benchmark and crystaldiskmark result?

 

Just read through the the whole tread, has been some productive days at work

A lot of good stuff, and people with much knowledge here

Unfortunatly I had to RMA my p771dm-g because of a faulty screen, the vendor didn`t have a replacement screen and is having one shipped.
Because of the holiday and all I guess I won`t get it back before next year

 

I mean the laptop screen. Since it has not any menu like external monitor has.

I am calibrating with this website http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/sharpness.php

I don't feel it blurry but rather curious how you could do it on a laptop.

 

Of the LCD panels I've owned over the years, I've never had a menu item for "Sharpness". I wonder if this is a Dutch to English translation issue, and they mean adjusting Brightness / Contrast.

Like the other posts, it would be that or perhaps the Clear text utility (anti-aliasing) feature of your OS they are talking about.

 

On my Samsung Xl2370 there was such a option in the menu. I calibrated using that website too and the image displayed correctly once calibrated.

I read somewhere nvidia use to have this sharpeness setting in the drivers. Anyway it is just curiosity, I am by no means a professional.

 

Computer monitors should always be at "sharp" with no smoothing except for AA where appropriate. TVs do have in built smoothing which you really would not want on a monitor.

 

Is there any other audio drivers compatible with the P770DM? I noticed that the realtek drivers gets rid of all the available playback devices and only puts 1 available device (not counting nvidia and digital outputs). While on the intel default drivers I was able to see a headphone out and 2 speaker devices (one for internal speakers and one for another out line that is shared with the S/PDIF port).

What I want to do is send different out puts to different speaker/output devices. I found a couple programs claiming to be able to do that but requires that it sees multiple device outputs so i haven't been able to try them. I'm wondering if anyone knows how make each devices appear separately with the realtek drivers. I'm gonna try to do it with the microsoft drivers for now.

**ok it works with the default microsoft driver. Unfortunately SoundBlaster does not work with it. Does anyone know how to make the realtek driver identify each device as a separate device? Or something along those lines.

 

Please help me decide. I'm wanting to put in 32GB total in my batman, but I'm trying to choose between

2 Sticks of 16GB G.SKILL (Ripjaws Series 16GB 260-Pin DDR4 SO-DIMM DDR4 2133 (PC4 17000) Laptop Memory Model F4-2133C15S-16GRS)

vs

4 Sticks fo 8GB of Kingston HyperX ddr4 ram.

I'm leaning toward the G.Skill because I can presumably use less power by using 2 sticks of G.Skill 16GB ram vs 4 sticks of 8GBs of Kingston ram.

I think I read some where each ram slot that has ram in it will use about 4 watts of power. I figure if I can free up 2 slots of ram I can save 8 watts of power which might translate into a cooler system, and maybe even save a few extra minutes of run time.

Though I'm worried the G.Skill may not have as good as cooling because it doesn't look like it has a heat spreader like Kingston does.


Also as you look here there is a bunch of options for G.Skill Ram If you think I should go with G.Skill which speed would you recommend? I thought I read some where on the higher speeds of ram it would cause the laptop to crash.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007609 50008476 600567143&IsNodeId=1

Anyways any thoughts or idea would be greatly appreciated

 

when in doubt, id always go with fewer sticks easier to overclock and also ud leave the option to expand to 64gb down the line without having to replace all sticks

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

2 sticks is better for performance (ever so slightly) and future excitability/resale value. 4W sounds high, certainly for idle power.

 

Is it normal that processor clock and vcore fluctuate constantly in IDLE?.

 

depending on the settings, yes. check your windows power profile, if its on balanced, then thats normal. if its on high performance mode and your voltage set to adaptive / default, then only the voltage should vary slightly. if youre on both high performance mode AND static voltage you shouldnt see any fluctuations whatsoever